How to Say ‘A little delay?’ in French
Un peu de retard ?
uhn puh duh ruh-tar
[uhn puh duh ruh-tar]
💬 Usage Tip: French often says [avoir du retard] or [avoir un peu de retard] where English says "be late." So this is literally "have a bit of delay," but it is the normal everyday phrasing.
Phrase Breakdown
Un
[uhn]
a / one
Indefinite article meaning a; here part of the phrase un peu.
Dans « Un peu de retard ? », « Un » fait partie de l'expression « un peu ».
In "A little late?", "Un" is part of the expression "un peu."
peu
[puh]
little / a little
Means little; in un peu it means a little.
Dans « Un peu de retard ? », « peu » indique une petite quantité.
In "A little late?", "peu" indicates a small amount.
de
[duh]
of
Preposition used in many quantity expressions like un peu de.
Dans « Un peu de retard ? », « de » relie « peu » à « retard ».
In "A little late?", "de" links "peu" to "retard."
retard
[ruh-tar]
lateness / delay
A noun meaning delay or being late.
Dans « Un peu de retard ? », « retard » parle d'une arrivée tardive.
In "A little late?", "retard" refers to arriving late.
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